Brick-Anew

One day I was scouring the web for fireplace brick painting techniques when I stumbled across this product called Brick-Anew.  They advertise a kit that helps you transform ugly red brick fireplaces into pretty fresh looking brick.  I was a tad skeptical, only because the detailed "how-to" instructions were no place to be found, but there were so many user submitted before & afters that I decided to go for it.

When I got the package in the mail, it came with a 10-minute instructional DVD.  This was starting to sound overwhelming...  You basically paint the entire surface (brick and mortar) and then follow it up with 4 more colors using varying techniques (brush, roller, sponge...)  to create variations in every brick.  I was watching the demo thinking it is not for someone like me...perfectionist... likes things symmetrical... etc.  But alas, after a solid weekend of non-stop brickwork, we had two amazingly transformed fireplaces for a couple hundred dollars.

Before

Base Coat.  Already such a difference!

Done!

I just love how it still looks more natural looking, as opposed to just solid painted brick.  It looks even better now with the room painted.  I did the same thing to the smaller fireplace in the other living room.  =)